Overseas-born players ‘fully submerged' in Lions culture
Pierre Schoeman insists the British and Irish Lions' overseas-born contingent have earned the right to be in Australia and have fully immersed themselves in the tourists' culture.
The Scotland prop is one of eight Lions players who were born, raised and educated in South Africa, New Zealand or Australia but qualify for their home unions through residency or family lineage.
Advertisement
Players who hail from the southern hemisphere representing the Lions is nothing new, but the number of them present in Andy Farrell's squad has caused a stir.
Lions great Willie John McBride said it 'bothered' him, while former England scrum-half Danny Care declared that 'it doesn't sit that well with me'.
But Schoeman insists they are ready to give everything in the quest to complete a series victory over the Wallabies, with Saturday's fixture against Western Force their first assignment on Australian soil.
'If you're good enough to play for your country, you're good enough to play for the Lions and you're selected, then obviously you're going to do that,' said Schoeman, who made five appearances for South Africa Under-20s in 2014.
Advertisement
'Playing for the Lions is massive. Scotland is home for us, my wife and myself. I know that's for the other players as well, like Mack Hansen has made Ireland home.
'You embrace that. You fully take that on. It's like the series Outlander – you move to a different country and now that's your house. You live there.
'If you work for one of the big four in finance, you get the opportunity, you're going to go for it. And you can really make that home.
'But this is much different. To represent the British and Irish Lions, you fully buy into that and its culture. You fully submerge into that. Nothing else matters. Not your past, not the future. It's about the now.
Advertisement
'Yesterday is gone forever, tomorrow might never come, now is the time to live. That's what we do as Lions. It's about the now, this tour. This is what really matters.'
The Lions arrived in Perth on the back of a 28-24 defeat by Argentina in Dublin, where they were given a taster of the support to come in Australia.
A sold-out Aviva Stadium was swamped in red for the tour send-off and Schoeman insists it is essential to deliver for the hoards of fans who will make the journey Down Under.
The Lions will be well backed by travelling fans in Australia (Niall Carson/PA).
'It was an amazing experience in Dublin to see the red army. It was incredible,' he said.
'You have to feel the responsibility of 50,000 or more fans coming to Australia. So you have a massive obligation and responsibility.
Advertisement
'We as the selected guys, management and players in this team have to make it happen.
'There's no space for dead weight on this team. Everyone has to push in the same direction.
'It's about driving this whole team towards a collective goal of going beyond and being back-to-back winners against Australia.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
33 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Lando Norris says ‘not most joyful conversations' followed his Canada crash
Lando Norris admitted he was subjected to 'not the most joyful conversations' with McLaren following his collision with Oscar Piastri in Canada. Norris was speaking at length for the first time since his world championship setback at the previous round in Montreal, where he crashed into the back of team-mate Piastri's car. Advertisement Championship leader Piastri was able to finish fourth but Norris retired with damage which leaves him 22 points off the title pace ahead of the 11th round of the season in Austria on Sunday. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella had warned of tough conversations with Norris. Addressing the post-Montreal summit here in Spielberg, the British driver said: 'Of course, they were not the most joyful conversations, but they were conversations that clearly needed to be had because it is not about just me, but it is about how we perform as a team, too, and we all know what the number one rule (not crashing into a team-mate) was, and continues to be. Advertisement 'So, there were very constructive things that were said, in an unfortunate way but in a good way, too, because many things have come out stronger which you might not have expected.' Norris accepted full responsibility for the coming together he said made him look foolish. He was already on the back foot in Canada following two mistakes in qualifying which left him seventh on the grid. Norris crashed into Piastri in the closing stages (Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press via AP) He drove well to bring himself back into contention only to misjudge the move on Piastri which again raises questions over his credentials as a legitimate championship contender. But an upbeat Norris continued: 'I almost forgot about it until earlier today. I feel good and I am excited for this weekend. Advertisement 'Yes, it took me a little time (to get over) because my team means everything to me. They are the people I have grown up with and the team that has given me my opportunity in Formula One. 'So, what happened in Montreal with my team-mate was probably the most painful part for me because it was the last thing I would ever want to happen and for that action to have come from me. 'I felt very bad for the team. It was a tough couple of days but I have become a lot better at dealing with those moments and speaking to Andrea, my team around me, and (McLaren CEO) Zak (Brown) and trying to move on as quickly as possible was very important. We come here with that in the past and we go again.' Despite the papaya-on-papaya clash, Norris insisted both he and Piastri are free to race. Advertisement He concluded: 'No, nothing has changed. It actually showed the trust and honesty that Oscar and I have for one another. 'And it is important that we keep that going and we stay strong because we don't want the downfall that we know other teams have had in the past. 'We want to race fair, hard and on the limit but we don't want a repeat of what happened last time out and that takes both of us even though Canada was on me.'
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Captaining the Lions a 'privilege and an honour', says Dan Sheehan
Captaining the Lions a 'privilege and an honour', says Dan Sheehan. Dan Sheehan insists his British and Irish Lions will use their pride in the jersey to match the determination of a Western Force side who are targeting a famous victory in Perth.
NBC Sports
2 hours ago
- NBC Sports
Barbora Krejcikova an injury doubt for Wimbledon as defending champion
EASTBOURNE, England — Barbora Krejcikova is an injury doubt ahead of her Wimbledon title defense after withdrawing from the Eastbourne Open due to a right thigh issue. Krejcikova gave Varvara Gracheva of France a walkover win in the quarterfinals at Devonshire Park. The Czech initially felt pain during her second-round victory over Jodie Burrage of Britain. The problem worsened overnight and she was going for a scan. 'I'm very sorry to have to withdraw from my quarterfinal today in Eastbourne as I'm having some soreness in my right thigh,' Krejcikova said in a statement. 'Overnight it just didn't get any better; it actually got worse. I think it's better with Wimbledon in the next couple of days just to rest it and to see what's going on and to resolve that.' Krejcikova played two tough three-set singles against British wild cards on the south coast. The second seed saved two match points against Harriet Dart and three more against Burrage. Krejcikova beat Jasmine Paolini in the Wimbledon final last year.
